Do Therapy Dogs Improve Behavior and Reduce Anxiety in Pediatric Dental Patients?

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

70 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-13

Study Completion Date

2026-06-01

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to assess whether the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental procedures that require an injection reduces anxiety and improves behavior in pediatric dental patients.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental procedure requiring an injection reduce anxiety and improve behavior in pediatric dental patients?
* How do the parents of pediatric dental patients who participate in the study view the use of a certified therapy dog in their child's treatment?
* Does the presence of a certified therapy dog result in different concentrations of microbes in the treatment room?

All participants will receive standard of care. Researchers will compare the group with a therapy dog present to a group who does not have a therapy dog present to see if heart rate, oxygen saturation, percentage of nitrous oxide administered, and Frankl scores differ between the groups.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Therapy Animals Dental Anxiety Child Behavior Anesthesia, Local

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Therapy Dog

This group will have a certified therapy dog present in the treatment room throughout the procedure. Prior to the procedure, the participant will be briefly introduced to the therapy dog and handler, who will remain in the room until the end of the procedure.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Therapy Dog

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Certified, volunteer therapy dogs and their handlers will be present in the room during procedures in the experimental arm to see if their presence reduces anxiety and improves behavior in pediatric dental patients.

Control

The control group receives standard of care and does not have a therapy dog present in the room during their treatment.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Therapy Dog

Certified, volunteer therapy dogs and their handlers will be present in the room during procedures in the experimental arm to see if their presence reduces anxiety and improves behavior in pediatric dental patients.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 3-7
* Children who are patients at the Medical University of South Carolina Department of Pediatric Dentistry
* Children classified as category 1 or 2 according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification
* Children whose parents/guardians are willing to consent to the child participating in the study
* Availability of parent to be present during treatment
* Children who require further care that includes the injection of a local anesthetic and whose procedure will take less than one hour

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients whose cases are considered emergencies
* Patients who are classified as category 3 or higher according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (6)
* If patient's medical status has worsened since initial evaluation
* Known allergy to dogs or other animals
* Past history of dental trauma
* Past history of animal bites or traumatic experience with a dog
* Emotional or developmental delays
* If, on the day of the treatment, patient presents with fever or other illness

Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

7 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes